What’s Knee Replacement Surgery?

You can’t move like you used to. It’s painful to walk the dog, climb a flight of stairs, or simply get out of a chair. You’ve tried medicines, injections, and physical therapy. Nothing seems to work. If that’s the case, it could be time to consider knee replacement surgery.

Also known as arthroplasty, knee replacement surgery is one of the most common bone surgeries in the United States. It can help ease the pain caused by severe arthritis. It also may help you move more freely. U.S. doctors perform more than 600,000 knee replacement surgeries each year.

During surgery, an orthopedic surgeon carves away the damaged part of the knee and replaces it with an artificial joint made of metal or plastic. The artificial joint is then attached to the thigh bone, shin, and kneecap with a special material such as acrylic cement.

Why Would I Need Surgery?

Osteoarthritis is the main reason why people go for knee replacement surgery. The age-related condition is very common and occurs when cartilage — the cushion between the knee and the bone joints — breaks down.

Other reasons include:

Rheumatoid arthritis : Rheumatoid arthritis is when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the lining of the knee.

Deformities: People with bowed legs or “knock-knees” often get surgery to restore the position of the knee.

Knee injuries : A broken bone or torn ligaments around the knee sometimes will result in arthritis that causes great pain and limits your movement.

Loss of blood flow: Doctors will recommend surgery if blood stops flowing to the bones (a condition called either osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis).

Different Types of Surgery

There are four main types of knee replacement surgery:

Total knee replacement. This is the most common form. Your surgeon replaces the surfaces of the thigh bone and shin bone that connects to the knee.

Partial knee replacement. If arthritis affects only one side of your knee, this surgery may be a possibility. However, it’s only right for you if you have strong knee ligaments. Partial knee replacement can be performed through a smaller cut than is needed for total knee replacement.

Kneecap replacement. This replaces only the under-surface of the kneecap, but some surgeons advise against this procedure, because total knee replacement surgery has a higher rate of success.

Complex (or revision) knee replacement. This procedure may be needed if you have very severe arthritis or if you’ve already had two or three knee replacement surgeries.